Ethan wandered forward, boots soft against polished stone. The air smelled faintly of old books and candle wax. Overhead, a chandelier glittered like a cluster of sleepy stars, scattering gentle light across the room.
The lounge opened around him like a quiet chapel—brown-black walls, twin staircases curling down to cushioned couches and towering shelves. In the center, a fountain murmured, its statue strangely familiar, as if he'd seen it in a drea
They drifted into the cafeteria, a spacious hall with high ceilings and long tables. Copper pots shone behind the wide kitchen counter, catching the glow of hidden lamp
"Here—grab some food," Chrissy said, grinnin
Tables brimmed with choices: biscuits stacked high, fruit polished bright, chips, vegetables, and sweet
Ethan reached for a slice of cheese and a piece of bread
Chrissy tilted her head. "Just that? How… delightfully simple
He offered a shy half-smil
"No, really," she added, warm and amused. "I like someone who knows what they like
They continued o
"This is the library," Chrissy sai
Shelves rose like a forest of stories, lamplight pooling softly on long table
A girl with half-white, half-silver hair worked over a tangle of wires and bubbling glass behind a gas mask. Nearby, a quiet boy read without looking up, while another sketched with quick, sure strokes—even though he wore a blindfold
At the end of a quiet hall they stopped before a row of sturdy wooden door
"These are your quarters," Chrissy said. "Ms. Fauveline will help you get settled
She waved goodbye, her footsteps fading as the hall settled back into its gentle hush..
A woman in her fifties, radiant despite the years, strode toward Ethan.
"You must be Mr. Von Claude?
"Yeah… I think so," he said, scratching the back of his neck. "I don't really remember, but you can just call me Ethan
Mrs. Fauveline gave him a gentle smile. "You'll discover yourself in time, dear. For now—" she crossed her arms, studying him with a playful squint—"hmm… brown like leather, a touch of gothic. A bit like Mr. Mycroft." She nodded to herself. "All right, I'll have your room ready in a jiffy
She disappeared through a door
From the hall came the scrape of moving furniture. A few minutes later she returned and swung the door ope
The room beyond was a study in contrast
On one side: a blue bed printed with tiny thunderbolts, a stuffed hero bunny, a nightstand scattered with energy-bar wrappers, and a closet spilling clothes. A shelf held a timer, a few figurines, and a framed photo
On the other side: a dark brown bed beside a compact study area and mini lab—black-etched closet, shelves of flasks and beakers, a chalkboard crowded with notes
"You'll be sharing with Dash," Mrs. Fauveline said. "Do you like your space
"Yes… it's like me." Ethan ran a hand over the polished wood of his nightstand. "Thank you. It's amazing how you did this in a minute
"You're welcome, Ethan." She smiled. "Oh—your bag's in the laundry. Your notebook is on the table. The broken glass beaker was taken by Jamie Bluebell. I'll leave you to settle in
She gave him one last warm look before closing the door
Ethan crossed to the desk. A battered notebook lay there, pages filled with equations, strange formulas, a sketch of a black flower, and cryptic notes on something called Zermorphosi
He frowned
A sudden plop broke the silenc
A slick black goo seeped from his palm
"Ahhh!" He splayed the goo across the floor, flinging his hand as if to shake it fre
"Whoa, whoa—easy," said a voic
Ethan froze. The goo stared back with tiny, glinting eye
"It talks!" He staggered back. "What—what is this
The creature tilted its head. "I'm you. You invented me, remember
"Me?" His heart hammered. "No way
The blob splatted, then re-formed with a wobble. "If I get hurt, you get hurt, idiot. We exist together. I saved your life when you were drowning—when you hit your head
"You… know how I died?" Ethan whispere
"I don't know how," the creature admitted. "I only woke when you were at the edge. Someone stirred my consciousness, but I know this: you created me in a flask with something engraved on it. That's my first memory. When I awoke, you were bleeding in the river, and someone—something—wanted me to save you
"Save me? Wait—do you remember who I was
The blob shook its jellylike head. "No. I just know you made me, and someone else woke me up. That's all.